ZION NATIONAL PARK
My all-time favorite national park! Choose a hike below to learn more.
Backpacking. Who was the genius who thought, "Oh let me load all my stuff on my back and sleep on a little pad away from any utilities for days." I ask myself this every time I begin a trip. But I'm hooked. How amazing it is to be able to head out with nothing but a pack and spend nights in the wilderness miles and miles away from any civilization? That is something special. Before we hiked the La Verkin Creek Trail, we had backpacked only once before. Our trip was in mid-March, and we thought that by going on a backpacking trip in February, we had trained plenty and were set. Well, we survived, but I cannot say we thrived on this trip. With every trip we take, we become more experienced and more able to be successful in the woods. Longer lengths, less aches, and better spirits. The Kolob Arch, however, was well-worth the trek and a relatively simple backpacking trip that I would definitely recommend to beginners! In order to do this trip, as with all Zion Backcountry Hikes, an overnight permit is required. There is no day-use fee, but a permit is needed for each night of wilderness camping. You can reserve a permit here, or you can attempt to obtain a walk-in permit up to one day prior to the day you begin your trip. Wilderness permits are reservable online on the 5th day of the month, three months in advance. The hike to Kolob Arch can be done as a dayhike but it is much more enjoyable to do an overnight backpack and get time to truly enjoy what the trail has to offer. Name: La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch Length: 9-12 miles each way depending on where you camp
Difficulty: Moderate Time: 2 days (1 looooooong day if you are attempting this as a dayhike) Things to Bring: Water (at least 3 L), camera, hat and sunglasses, snacks, food, stove, water filter, oh gosh the list goes on and on...a complete gear list can be found below. Description: I think all trails in Zion are unbelievably unique and gorgeous. This area is just so remote it is incredible. That being said, we saw very little wildlife - only a couple of mule deer in two days. I think we were pretty okay with that, though. In my opinion, the end goal (which for us was the Kolob Arch) is much more enjoyable than the hike leading up to it. The scenery is beautiful, but the deep sand in places is brutal when carrying any additional weight on your back. Begin your hike from Lee Pass to begin a gradual 1,000 foot descent into the canyon. As you reach the bottom of the descent you will pass Campsite 1. Campsite numbers were how we kept track of milage throughout the hike as each one is clearly marked. About three miles in, you will start to see the La Verkin Creek! It is not crystal clear, but a sky blue color. The hike continues along the creek and branches out to a trail to see Kolob Arch at about 8 miles in. For us, this was not the stopping point, as our campsite was another 1.25 miles past the arch. And speaking of another 1.25 miles away, we were dying. We were just having a hard time getting our butts down this trail. Like I said, this entire trek was a learning experience, and something else we learned, was that it was probably not smart to add a backpacking trip to the end of a 40+ mile week in Zion. Wow, were we beat. I could not wait to lay in my tent, close my eyes and take a long, long sleep. I've heard the stars are absolutely amazing in this canyon because there is little civilization for miles in this area. Unfortunately I cannot confirm or deny due to the fact that I was asleep well before the sun even set. If you find arches and natural bridges to be amazing, this is a trail for you. I know that it was a great starting off point for us, and that we really enjoyed our time, and could have enjoyed it even more with a little additional experience, food, and preparation. Here are some things that I learned, however, and for each backpacking trip, I just continue to learn more and more. Sam's Secrets
GEAR
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